Bike shaped hybrids... Canadian Tire Tempo

This is a public service message from your friendly neighbourhood bicycle repairman...

A fellow I know thought he got a great deal on a Supercycle Tempo... an aluminum framed hybrid with entry level Shimano bits that sells for $160.00 Cdn. It could very well be made by Kent as I know they supply C-Tire with many models but that is not a certainty.

I said I would check it over for him and just left him a message to let him know he bought a bike shaped object and should return the bike for a full refund...for what he was willing to spend on set up as well as better tires he could get a much better used bike... because this bike will need more than just that.

The wheels and tires are crap... with no miles on the bike the rear tire already has stress cracks in the casing, the rear axle is bent, the spokes had grievously de-tensioned themselves and am not sure the wheels will stay true despite my best efforts (and I know my stuff). The crank is cheap and the spindle is too wide so tuning the front d is impossible, the brake pads already look like they have been used for 1000 miles of hard riding.

The front wheel was worse than the rear and would have taco'd under any hard impacts and again... I could not guarantee that the wheel would stay true.

And the ride... it could be one of the worst riding bikes I have ever ridden as even with the tires at 75 psi it was like riding a block of solid aluminum... harsh does not begin to describe it.

The rear freewheel sounds like it has no bearings... it rattles.

The no name brakes were not set up properly and are cheap, flexy, and weak.

I looked at the reviews for this bike and was astounded that it got as many positive reviews as it did... it's like these people purchased a completely different bike or are company shills.

Holy cow, I knew buying Cambodian Tire bikes was a bad idea, but the word "taco" made me cringe. It should be illegal to sell bicycle-shaped objects that are actually dangerous! I paid, what, $75 for a classic steel road bike that I had tuned/looked over and there's nothing wrong with the bloody thing and it's something like 25 years old. I find it shocking that a brand new "bike" is a threat to the rider but a 25 year old bike isn't. WTF?

This is a public service message from your friendly neighbourhood bicycle repairman...

A fellow I know thought he got a great deal on a Supercycle Tempo... an aluminum framed hybrid with entry level Shimano bits that sells for $160.00 Cdn. It could very well be made by Kent as I know they supply C-Tire with many models but that is not a certainty.

I said I would check it over for him and just left him a message to let him know he bought a bike shaped object and should return the bike for a full refund...for what he was willing to spend on set up as well as better tires he could get a much better used bike... because this bike will need more than just that.

The wheels and tires are crap... with no miles on the bike the rear tire already has stress cracks in the casing, the rear axle is bent, the spokes had grievously de-tensioned themselves and am not sure the wheels will stay true despite my best efforts (and I know my stuff). The crank is cheap and the spindle is too wide so tuning the front d is impossible, the brake pads already look like they have been used for 1000 miles of hard riding.

The front wheel was worse than the rear and would have taco'd under any hard impacts and again... I could not guarantee that the wheel would stay true.

And the ride... it could be one of the worst riding bikes I have ever ridden as even with the tires at 75 psi it was like riding a block of solid aluminum... harsh does not begin to describe it.

The rear freewheel sounds like it has no bearings... it rattles.

The no name brakes were not set up properly and are cheap, flexy, and weak.

I looked at the reviews for this bike and was astounded that it got as many positive reviews as it did... it's like these people purchased a completely different bike or are company shills.

Unfortunately there seem to be way too many bike shaped objects for sale and sold these days. It may have to do with figures I once read that the average bicycle sold in the USA will never see 100 miles of use. I am not sure if this is a cause of the inexpensive bikes being made or the effect of people buying such junk. Possibly a combination of the two. After all if a "bike" is bought but not ridden then all it has to do is look like a bike.

The only way the industry could be changed IMO is for a large number of fairly serious riders to buy this junk and then make the retailer's life so miserable with complaints, direct and to the BBB and government safety agencies, that they are forced to cease selling these bicycle shaped objects. A few lawsuits over quality of assembly might help too if users are injured.

When I met my girlfriend 2 years ago she didn't have a bicycle. She was 18 at the time and that fact didn't set well in my stomach (I have had a bike since I was about 5). She rode my spare MTB, but didn't like how she was bent over. After thinking about it I told her I would buy her a bike, whatever she felt comfortable on. She insisted that I only buy a bike from a department store, but I explained that I wanted her to have a good bike that was worthy of her owning and taking care of, and also safe to ride without me having to work on it constantly (and I LOVE working on bikes...).

We checked out diamondback bikes at dicks sporting goods. They are of good quality but I don't trust the teens they have there in the bike department. Ended up at my favorite bike shop and she found a Trek 7100WSD she liked but she was not sure of me spending the $320 on it. I took her back about a week later and we walked out with that bike! She has told me how happy she is that I got her a decent bike. 2 years and probably a thousand or so miles on it.

A guy I work with, recently married, also wanted a bike. I tried talking him into spending the extra $100 for a good trek or specialized from a bike shop, but he got a Schwinn hybrid/comfort bike from target. I took a peek at the bike at target, looks decent but When I get a chance I am gonna give it a good look over for him, and tune up. Probably free I know he doesn't have much money.

But, if you look at an overwhelming majority of people buying cheap department store bikes, they also leave them on their porch or outside in the elements. Better they buy cheap bikes than ruin good bikes

Apparently this Tempo got alot of good reviews. I wonder if you got a lemon.
Having said that, I did take a look at it while at CT picking up some cheap motor oil. I didn't like how it feels. I think it retails for $299.
Did you know that the CCM Presto is the cousin of the GMC Denali? In fact some CT stores still carry the old Supercycle Medalist which is the same as GMC Denali!! $169.

FWIW, I bought a CCM Excelsior hybrid from Canadian Tire a few months ago. Similar to the Tempo, it has an alum. frame. It also has a suspension seatpost (though not "front suspension" as advertised!). But unlike the Tempo, it was just $250 retail, and I bought it at $200 on sale. Shifts fine (Shimano Tourney derailleur), brakes fine, and is tres comfortable to ride. So far, the wheels haven't fallen off, and the bike didn't blow up. I'm happy with the purchase, other than the fact that at the time, I didn't know what I could get for 2 bills on the -used- market. I then got a Giant Cypress DX (with real front suspension) used, for the same price as the Excelsior new, and the CCM Excelsior has become a 2nd bike, as a lower theft risk. I had no problems with the CCM (other than the brakes squeal a bit much for my taste, but they're linear brakes). Still runs fine, and I'm quite certain it will give at least or more than it's $200 value over its lifespan. I've seen the Tempo in the store and around town, but never tested it. I'd say, the only real difference between the CCM Excelsior and, say, a Trek 7.3, is the price and the quality.

The Supercycle Tempo I bought from CT is a very high quality hybrid bike, suitable for commuting and recreational use. It has a 6061 aluminum frame, and steel handlebar, stem, forks, and peddles. Its 12 Kg weight is a bit heavy, but the weight can be reduced if you replace the steel components by aluminum ones. The bike is made to last and is completely different from what OP mentioned at the beginning. It is a lot of bike for $160. You would have to pay ten times price for the next level up-grade. I have replaced the saddle and the stem on my bike.

The Supercycle Tempo I bought from CT is a very high quality hybrid bike, suitable for commuting and recreational use. It has a 6061 aluminum frame, and steel handlebar, stem, forks, and peddles. Its 12 Kg weight is a bit heavy, but the weight can be reduced if you replace the steel components by aluminum ones. The bike is made to last and is completely different from what OP mentioned at the beginning. It is a lot of bike for $160. You would have to pay ten times price for the next level up-grade. I have replaced the saddle and the stem on my bike.

The Supercycle Tempo I bought from CT is a very high quality hybrid bike, suitable for commuting and recreational use. It has a 6061 aluminum frame, and steel handlebar, stem, forks, and peddles. Its 12 Kg weight is a bit heavy, but the weight can be reduced if you replace the steel components by aluminum ones. The bike is made to last and is completely different from what OP mentioned at the beginning. It is a lot of bike for $160. You would have to pay ten times price for the next level up-grade. I have replaced the saddle and the stem on my bike.

Can someone give me $1600.00 and watch what I can do with that ? At the very least I could buy 3 very good quality new hybrid bicycles.

If the Tempo you bought is the same model I described the next upgrade would be to spend $400.00 - $500.00 on a decent entry level hybrid from your local LBS.

On bikes that cost ten times as much...

I recently bought this for $160.00 and when it was new in '95 it was a $1600.00 + bicycle... reproducing the frame and fork in today's economy would cost $1200.00 on it's own and then building it up would add another $1000.00 - $1500.00 for the right parts.. The only changes I made was to change the stem for fit, freshen up the bar tape, and change the cassette so am still less than $200.00 in on this mid 90's, hand built, steel road bike that came with rather excellent parts.

Will admit that finding a bicycle like this for the price I paid is a rare event.

Figure I should update this little thread as my friend still has his Tempo and it has been back to my shop a few times now as it got some new wheels, new brakes, and we corrected the wrong sized bottom bracket as well as some regular upkeep as he is no bike mechanic... the parts are better but it still rides like crap.

He is talking about buying a better bike and it was not like he was an inexperienced rider looking to get into riding... this is his daily transportation.

For what he is in to for his deal of a bike, he could have bought a much better bike and I made him a great offer on my Trek hybrid that he passed on... I sold that bike to my friend who has been riding the wheels off it for a year and it has yet to have a reason to visit my shop.

When I ask her only reply is that the bike is perfect... just like the mountain bike she bought from me a few years ago.

I have dealt with far too many bike shaped objects in my life and been living and riding long enough to see how low the bar has been moved when it comes to entry level bicycles and in some cases, that is really low.

I followed the Can Tire link in your first post to read the reviews. Interesting.
Local big box mart manager here was busted about a year ago for having employees write up glowing on line reviews for products, from their homes.
Wonder if she works for Can Tire now.

I am a material scientist, not a bicycle repairman. Bicycles have been around for eons; the basic mechanism remains the same. More recent advancements are in using stronger and lighter materials for the structure and better gear-shifting mechanism.

I think OP's criticism is way too harsh. I have some doubt about the credibility of his opinion. How could these things happen in a brand new bike with stress-cracked tire, bent rear axle, worn brake pads, etc. as mentioned in the first post? These things CANNOT and WILL NOT happen in consumer products from a reputable store such as Canadian Tire. (minds you I have no relationship with CT). I bought this bike after carefully inspected it. The tires are 700x28C Kenda, CNC 6061 T6 rims, aluminum drums, Shimano gears, aluminum crank, steel handlebar and stem ( I replaced it with an adjustable aluminum stem). I am a causal recreational rider, this bike is just right for me.